Mini-surge cycling method for pumping liquid from a borehole to remove material in contact with the liquid

Abstract

A method for removing a fluid and a material in contact with the fluid from a borehole penetrating the earth, the method including: operating a pump coupled to the borehole at a first speed for a first time interval to remove the fluid; and operating the pump at a second speed greater than the first speed for a second time interval to remove the fluid and the material.

1. A method for removing a liquid and a material that is not a liquid in contact with the liquid from a borehole penetrating the earth, the method comprising:
 operating a pump coupled to the borehole at a first speed for a first time interval to remove the liquid and not the material; and 
 operating the pump at a second speed greater than the first speed for a second time interval to remove the liquid and the material; 
 wherein the pump is operated in continuous cycles, each cycle comprising operating the pump at the first speed for the first time interval followed by operating the pump at the second speed for the second time interval. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , each cycle further comprising operating the pump at a third speed slower than the first speed for a third time interval prior to the operating the pump at the second speed wherein the third speed is selected to allow an increase in a level of the liquid in the borehole, wherein each cycle comprises operating the pump at the first speed for the first time interval followed by operating the pump at the third speed for the third time interval followed by operating the pump at the second speed for the second time interval. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first speed is a normal rated speed of the pump allowing for continuous operation. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed and the second time interval are selected to prevent damage to the pump. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second speed and the second time interval are selected to prevent the pump from exceeding a selected temperature. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a solid. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one selection from a group consisting of the first time interval, the second speed, and the second time interval is adjusted to prevent damage to the pump. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the adjustment is based upon a measurement by a sensor sensing at least one selection from a group consisting of a pump speed, a pump temperature, a pump vibration, a pump flow rate, and a pump wear. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein the pump is disposed in the borehole. 
     
     
       10. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a program comprising instructions that when executed perform a method for removing a liquid and a material that is not a liquid in contact with the liquid from a borehole penetrating the earth, the method comprising:
 operating a pump coupled to the borehole at a first speed for a first time interval to remove the liquid and not the material; and 
 operating the pump at a second speed greater than the first speed for a second time interval to remove the liquid and the material; 
 wherein the pump is operated in continuous cycles, each cycle comprising operating the pump at the first speed for the first time interval followed by operating the pump at the second speed for the second time interval. 
 
     
     
       11. The medium of  claim 10 , wherein each cycle further comprises operating the pump at a third speed slower than the first speed for a third time interval prior to the operating the pump at the second speed wherein the third speed is selected to allow an increase in a level of the liquid in the borehole.